Yesterday, Apple surprised and disappointed many people in equal measures with the unveiling of the iPhone 4S. There simply isn’t an iPhone 5 (yet), instead we have the exact same design as the iPhone 4, but with all new internals and therefore a much faster phone.

Competitors looked on, and in some ways are probably quite relieved this isn’t a phone that offers anything ground breaking in terms of new hardware. In fact, Samsung was first out the gate to demonstrate why the iPhone 4S isn’t being seen as a threat at all.

Samsung’s best Android smartphone so far is the Galaxy S II, and it is being used as a counterpunch to the iPhone 4S. The company has produced a comparison chart that points out exactly where the Galaxy S II already beats/outperforms Apple’s latest handset.

You can see the full chart included below, but here’s the key differences Samsung highlights the S II has over the 4S:

4G up to 21Mbps transfer speeds (up to 50% faster)

Super AMOLED Plus display

4.5 or 4.3-inch display (that’s up to 58% larger)

8MP rear camera combined with 2MP front camera

1080p High Profile video capture and playback

Only weighs 4.3oz

Has a removable battery

Can be used as a HDTV remote control

Availability on T-Mobile

Use of Android Gingerbread

External storage expansion through microSD

$199-$229 price point

How many of those you see as an advantage depends on your smartphone preferences and love of Apple products. The key advantages are a bigger screen, potentially faster data downloads, a lighter handset, and more storage potential. The removable battery is also a nice-to-have feature.

Looking at hardware alone, you have to admit that Samsung has the advantage if you want a large screen and masses of storage. You also have to wonder how the iPhone 4S will stack up in a few months as new Android smartphones keep appearing.

Hardware alone isn’t really a fair comparison point. You need to take into account the hardware, software, and overall experience combined for a true picture. How does the iPhone 4S stack up against the competition as platform?